When the Active saw the wreck, she was steering a direct course for her, and had it been at night, must have gone upon it; and to clear which she was obliged to haul up from her course about three points: she was going at the rate of eight knots, with a fresh breeze of wind and squally weather, at the time, which prevented those on board from sending a boat to examine more particularly into the state of the wreck."

Remarkable Occurrence. The officers of the shipping at Saugor were a few days since presented with a novel spectacle.-A brig was observed floating with the tide in such a manner as clearly to indicate that she was either destitute of people, or that she had no sailors on board.-In consequence of which an officer of the Davaynes, as we have been given to understand, went on board, and was confirmed in the opinion which had, on the vessel's first appearance, been entertained,- no human creature living to be found.-It is said on some parts of her deck, the marks of blood were strikingly apparent, and that in her cabin were found the blood-stained clothes of an European.

As the vessel's cargo consists of salt, it is probable she is last from some place on the coast of Coromandel, in which case we may expect soon to be informed of the persons names who composed the crew, if nothing further should transpire respecting this extraordinary affair.

The vessel is at present in a place of safety, to which she was convey ed by captain Green, of the Mermaid, who took her in tow.

Dreadful Earthquake.

Extract:-" Matura, Sept. 24, 1803. "On the night between the 31st August, and the 1st of September, at half an hour after midnight, a severe shock of an earthquake was felt at this place, which lasted for many minutes, and was violent beyond the memory of man. Probably not a living creature in the place, but was roused from his slumbers by the alarm, and felt its effects. Many of the Pucka buildings were cast down, and Zenanes, hitherto unassailed by violence, were deserted, and their fair inhabitants took refuge in the streets and in the fields, in dishabilles which had no effect to conceal, and in an affright which elevated their charms, seeking protection with men, whose visages it would otherwise have disgraced them to behold.-The night was calm, and enjoyed the full influence of a bright moon; and when the alarm. was over, the blushes and modesty of the fair deserters of their consecrated

crated mansions, afforded a pleasing contrast to their previous distresses, and amply consoled their protectors for the desolation they had suffered in their own houses.

"Noorul Nissa Balgam, a beautiful and accomplished woman, then pregnant with her third child, to the unspeakable affliction of her husband, was unfortunately killed by the falling of a tile, under which she had run for safety :---and another lady of eminence was cruelly put to death upon a suspicion of gallantry with the person who attended her in her flight, though wholly unwarranted by any other appearance of suspicion than the disordered state of the few garments they respectively bore.

"In the morning very extensive fissures were observed in the fields, which had been caused by the percussion of the night before, through which, water rose with great violence, and continues to run to the present date, though its violence has gradually abated. This has been a great benefit to the neighbouring Ryotts, as they were thence enabled to draw the water over their parched fields.

"The principal Mosque of the place, erected on an eminence by the famous Ghauze Khaun, as a token of his triumph over the infidelity of the Hindus, has been shattered to pieces, and a considerable part of the dome was swallowed up during the opening of the earth.

"Several slighter shocks have since occurred, but I do not hear they have occasioned any further damage."

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATIONS.

Fort William, Public Dept. Oct. 12, 1803. 1st. The public are hereby in

formed, that the sub-treasurer at the presidency, the resident at Lucnow, and the several collectors of the land revenue, have been authorized to receive, until further orders, any sums of money in even hundreds (not being less than Sicca rupees one thousand) which may be tendered on loan to the honorable company, at an interest of eight per cent. per annum, as hereafter specified.

2d. The above-mentioned officers have been outhorized to receive in transfer to this loan, all outstanding treasury bills of this government; accepted bills of exchange drawn on the governor general in council, after deducting interest at the rate of six rupees, thirteen annas, and six pie per cent. per annum, for the period which the bills may have to run; bills for arrears of salary, whether the same shall have been advertised for payment or not; and generally all authorized public demands.

3d. The paymasters of the army are also authorized to transfer any demands which may be payable by them respectively to this loan, and grant drafts for the amount in the usual manner on the military paymasters general, which drafts shall be received by the several officers above-mentioned, in payment of subscriptions, on being tendered to them for that purpose. The subscriptions will be received on the following terms:

4th. Subscriptions in cash, treasury bills, bills of exchange, arrears of civil and military allowances, and other authorized public demands, will be received at a discount of two per cent. that is, for every subscription of 102 rupees, a receipt will be granted entitling the subscriber to a promissory note for

100 rupees, to be issued on the terms of the present loan.

5th. The Sicca rupee of Lucnow and the Benares, will be received as equal to the Calcutta Sicca rupee.

6th. A receipt will be granted for each subscription bearing interest at the rate of eight rupees per cent: per annum, from the date of such receipt until the first of April

next.

7th. The interest which may be due on that date, on receipts granted for subscriptions to this loan, will be paid in cash at the general tresury at the presidency, or at the treasury of the resident, at Lucnow, or the collectors of Oude and Benares, in cases where the subscriptions shall have been made at those treasuries respectively; and for the principal a promissory note or notes will be granted, bearing date the 1st of April, 1804, and be numbered and registered in the order in which the receipts may be presented at the accountant general's office.

8th. The principal of the promissory notes shall be payable either in Bengal, under the rules established for the payment of the Register debt now existing, or by bills to be drawn by the governor general in council, on the honorable the court of directors, at the exchange of two shillings and sixpence the Sicca rupee, payable twelve months after sight; (which bills shall be granted at any time, on the application of the proprietor of the notes, either when the principal shall have become payable in Bengal, or at any earlier period) and any bills which may be so granted will, if the proprietor desire it, be forwarded by the deputy accountant general in the public packets to him or his agent or as

sign, according to the instructions which may be given for that purpose.

9th. The interest of the promissory notes shall be payable half yearly, viz. on the 1st of October and 1st of April, from year to year, until the principal shall be discharged, and shall be at the option of the proprietor of the notes to receive payment of such interest, either in cash at the general treasury, at the presidency, or by bills to be drawn by the governor general in council, on the honorable the court of directors, at the exchange of two shillings and sixpence the Sicca rupee, payable twelve months after sight, provided always in the latter case, that the interest for which bills may be so required may amount to fifty pounds sterling at the least, and no bills will be granted for a smaller amount.

10th. For the accommodation of persons returning to Europe, the subscribers to this loan, their executors, administrators, and assigns, shall be entitled, on application to the governor general in council, to have their promissory notes (provided they amount to the principal sum of Sicca rupees 10,000) deposited in charge of the sub-treasurer for the time being, at the risk, and under the security of the company. An acknowledgment will be granted by that officer for the promissory notes so deposited with him, and the interest accruing thereon will be remitted as it shall become due by bills on the terms above-mentioned, which bills will be forwarded by the deputy accountant general to the proprietor, his agent or assign, according to the instructions which may be given for that purpose.

11th. All applications to the governor general in council to have

pro

promissory notes deposited in the treasury, must be accompanied by the notes so to be deposited, and directions must be written in the following terms: on the face and across the lines of each note, and be attested by the signature of the proprietor or his constituted attorney or attornies.

"The interest accruing half yearly on the promissory note, and the principal as it shall become payable according to the order established for the discharge of the register debt, are to be remitted (unless it shall be hereafter directed to the contrary) by bills to be drawn on the honourable the court of directors pursuant to the tenor of this promissory note, and the other conditions of the loan published in the Calcutta Gazette of the 13th October, 1803, payable to

and to be forwarded tobut this promissory note shall not be pledged, sold, or in any manner negotiated, or delivered up to any person whomsoever; nor are these directions with respect to the mode of payment of the interest or principal to be in any manner altered, except on application to the governor-general in council, to be made by myself, my executors, or administrators, or under the authority of a special power of attorney, specifying the number, date, and amount of this promissory note, to be executed by me, or them, for that purpose."

12th. For the satisfaction of persons who may propose to return to Europe before the period prescribed for the final adjustment of the accounts of this loan, and who may be desirous of availing themselves of the accommodation offered them under the forogoing articles, the deputy accountant gen. will, on their part, write the decla

ration above prescribed on the promissory notes, provided he shall receive instructions for this purpose, by an endorsement to be executed on the receipt or receipts under the signature of the proprietor, or his constituted attorney or attornies. The deputy accountant general will also make the necessary application to the governor-general in council, for an order to the sub-treasurer to receive the promissory notes in deposit, and will forward the acknowledgment of that officer's to the proprietor of the notes, or to his agent or assign, according to the instruction which may be furnished him for that purpose.

13th. A receipt will be granted in the following form, for subscriptions which may be made at any of the public treasuries.

FORM OF RECEIPT.

"I do hereby acknowledge, that A. B. has this day paid into the honourable company's treasury, the sum of Sicca rupeeswhich is to be accounted for to him or order as follows :-Interest on the principal will be paid to him at the general treasury at the presidency, or at the treasury of at and after the rate of eight rupees per cent. per annum, from this date to the 1st of April next; and for the principal a promissory note to be dated on the 1st April, 18C4, will be granted on application to the deputy accountant general, payable conformably to the conditions of the loan published in the Calcutta Gazette of the 13th October, 1803.

(Signed)

of

"C. D."

Sub treasurer. 1803."

14th. Promissory notes, under the signature of the secretary to the government, will be granted in

the

the following form, in exchange for the receipts.

-1804.

"Fort William,"PROMISSORY NOTE FOR SA. RS."

"The governor-general in council does hereby acknowledge to have received from A. B. the sum of Sicca rupees- -as a loan to the honourable the united company of merchants of England trading to the East Indies, and does hereby promise for, and on behalf of the United Company, to repay and discharge the said loan by paying unto the said A. B. his executors or administrators, or his or their order, the principal sum of Sicca rupees- -aforesaid at the presidency of Fort William, agreeably to the order in which this note may stand on the general register of notes and bonds of this presidency, payable according to the propriety of date and number, unless the same shall have been previously discharged by bills drawn on the honourable the court of directors, according to the conditions of the plan, for a loan published in the Calcutta Gazette of the 13th October, 1803; and by paying the interest accruing thereon, at the rate of eight per cent. per annum by half yearly payments, viz. on the 1st October, and the 1st April following, from year to year, until the principal shall be discharged at the option of the lender, his executors, administrators, or assigns, either in cash at the general treasury at the presidency, or by bills to be drawn by the governorgeneral in council, on the honourable the court of directors, at the rate of two shillings and six-pence the Sicca rupee, and payable twelve months after sight.

Fort William, Oct. 12, 1803. The public are hereby informed, that the sum expected to be applicable to the redemption of the public debt, by the commissioners of the sinking fund, in the month of November, is Sicca rupees four lacs (Sa. rs. 400,0000); of this sum, current rupees 149,400, or Sicca rupees 128,793, will be applied to the discharge of the bonds and notes of the general register from No. 3766 to No. 2777, both inclusive, on Monday the 7th of November, on which date the interest thereupon will cease. The remainder will be applied by the commissioners in the purchase of bonds and notes of this government, bearing an interest of six and eight per cent. per annum, on tenders being made to them in the usual manner.

Death of Abdulah Wahabee. A letter from Muscat, dated the 23d. ult. conveys intelligence that

Abdulah